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Comment by 0xcde4c3db | Hacker News Reader

That is, a device to train autistic children to communicate "normally". Not a method for more effective teaching in general.

While obviously a biased sample, the #ActuallyAutistic reactions I've seen so far are... not enthusiastic (roughly: Holy shit, again with the "eye contact" obsession; do you think we haven't figured out where your eyes are?).

The more articles like this I see, the more I get the whole "nothing about us without us" thing.

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Pretty much, yeah. Neurotypical folks want to feel comfortable, and see the way of addressing this as teaching neurodivergent folks to power through it and live in constant stress and anxiety for their benefit. No willingness to meet half way.

Agreed - while dressed up in technology (that flopped, for good reason) this is simply another way to try and force people into being "normal".

There is no need for this device, or the motive behind it, to exist.

More kids have ASD then ever before and there is a shortage of therapists. If this technology can make a clinical impact then it is a good thing. It broadens access to treatment. Much like voice technology like Siri and Alexa may help as well.

> If this technology can make a clinical impact then it is a good thing.

A major issue is that such impact for ASD is often (perhaps even typically) measured without bothering to ask the person whether they regard it as an improvement.

Intensive ABA therapy was shown to be effective in the 70s. We also know that the earlier you begin therapy the better the outcomes. So I should ask my 2 year old if they regard it as an improvement? My 3 year old? What about an infant? We see early signs of autism in infants. Not sure what you are on about here. You can see and assess improvement without asking a person. In fact someone with ASD might not even be able to tell you they feel improvement until much much later.

> So I should ask my 2 year old if they regard it as an improvement? My 3 year old?

Uh, yes? You can also watch for things like avoidant behavior and distress (or the opposite) centered around the therapy process.

there are a lot of other uses for glass outside of this

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